Indian Carriers Face Rising Costs as Flight Routes Lengthen
Aviation Industry Estimates $500 Million Monthly Loss Amid Ongoing Restrictions
- Karachi: (March 18, 2026) Pakistan has announced that it will continue to keep its airspace closed to Indian commercial airlines. Since the Pakistan–India conflict in May, Pakistan has maintained restrictions on Indian carriers.
The Pakistan Aviation Authority has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), stating that the ban on Indian aircraft using Pakistani airspace has been extended. The restriction will now remain in effect until April 24, 2026. No aircraft registered in India will be permitted to use Pakistan’s airspace. This ban applies to all aircraft operated by Indian airlines or operators, including Indian military flights.
The closure of Pakistan’s airspace has created significant challenges for Indian airlines. Flights traveling from India to Europe and the United States are now required to take longer routes, adding approximately one to one-and-a-half hours of additional flight time. This has not only increased operating costs substantially but has also disrupted flight scheduling.
Previously, more than 100 Indian flights used Pakistani airspace daily. According to aviation industry sources, the continued closure is causing losses of around $500 million per month to the Indian aviation sector.
Due to the airspace restrictions, Indian airlines have also lost direct air connectivity with Central Asian countries, while flights to Europe and the United States are being operated through alternative routes.
